Welcome to the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory!THE RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ST. PETERSBURG STATE CONSERVATORY
St. Petersburg Conservatory was founded in 1862 following the initiative and through the active organizational skills of the renowned pianist and composer Anton. Rubinstein. During its first year as many as 179 students were enrolled, the number went up to 200 in later years. Many renowned musicians were among the conservatory professors. The names of the first graduates occupy a prominent place in the history of world music. Among them there is the name of the famous Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky, who was awarded a silver medal upon his graduation in 1865. His name is carved first into a marble plaque. A great influence on what will later become a school of composition and theory was N. Rimsky-Korsakov, whose contribution to conservatory life was immense. Currently, the conservatory has 6 faculties: faculty of composition and conducting, piano, orchestral instruments, voice and stage directing, musicology, and folk instruments. The faculties can boast of the world famous composers, conductors, singers, pianists, organists, orchestra instruments performers, opera directors, ballet masters, musicologists. At the turn of the XXI century the conservatory aims to revive and expand the tradition of the predecessors. Many graduates became laureates of prestigious international competitions, holding prominent places in the musical world. The conservatory is actively involved in International symposiums and master classes both as an organizer and a participant. For years the conservatory has maintained cooperation with the largest universities and music schools of Hamburg, Dresden, Koln, Wrozlaw, Rotterdam, Boston, Birmingham and others. The year 2001 marked the beginning of the annual event «The International Conservatory Week Festival».
The conservatory’s pride is the building which was constructed in 1896 especially to fit for the school’s purposes, it houses the Opera and ballet theater and Glazunov concert hall. Currently the conservatory employs more than 400 teachers and provides education for over 1300 students. Since 1975 the conservatory has been actively enrolling foreign students whose total number today is estimated to be 250 people from 38 countries of the world. Conservatory graduates are among the most sought after in the world: they easily secure jobs in the best symphonic orchestras, perform as soloists for the prestigious stages, direct ballets and operas, at the same time continuing the tradition of the Russian musical education, working as teachers for music schools, academies and universities. Programmes offered:
Duration of studies: 4 years. Specialist degree Duration of studies: 5 years. Master level. Post Graduate Performance course (Assistentura-stazhirovka) Duration of studies: 2 years. Doctorate course (Aspirantura) Duration of studies: 3 years. Special training course Duration of studies: from 2 months to 10 months. Preparatory course Duration of studies: 10 months. DEPARTMENTSPIANO DEPARTMENTThe Conservatory’s oldest department was established in the second half of the 19th century. Over the years it drew all the best that existed in the performing arts tradition of Western Europe and developed its own style from which the Russian Piano School evolved. The department has always been remarkable for a large variety of artistic trends and aesthetic principles, which, different as they are, serve a single purpose. Programmes offered:
Specialist degree: «The Art of instrumental performance (piano) »
Specialist degree: «The art of instrumental performance (concert clavier: organ or harpsichord) » DEPARTMENT OF ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS
Orchestral instruments
DEPARTMENT OF VOCAL STUDIES AND STAGE DIRECTING
Academic singing Specialist degree: «The art of vocal performance» Choreography Bachelor degree « The Art of Choreographer»: DEPARTMENT OF COMPOSITION AND CONDUCTING
The conservatory school in composition was founded by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov who developed a universal teaching method based on aesthetic principles and stylistic standards reflected in supplementary subjects relevant to the course. The success of several generations of graduates: Sergey Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich, Georgy Sviridov, all of whom took the complete course in composition, proves the method. Conducting Specialist degree: «Symphony conducting; academic choral conducting» Composition Specialist degree: «Composition» DEPARTMENT OF FOLK INSTRUMENTS
Folk Instruments Specialist degree: «The art of concert performance (folk instruments: accordion, bayan, guitar, domra, balalaika)» DEPARTMENT OF MUSICOLOGYThe department was established in 1925. Its traditions of teaching were founded by distinguished figures in Russia musical culture, and combine principles of both conservatory and university education. The training is provided in several fields: history of Russian music, history of music, ethnomusicology and old-folk-singing, theory of music, music criticism and theory of performing art. Programmes offered: Musicology Specialist degree: «Musicology»  All classes are conducted in Russian. Students have an opportunity to master the Russian language while doing the Preparatory course. Official site: www.conservatory.ru |
Piano
Organ
From the outset training has been centered upon this department which has sent graduates on careers as orchestral instrumentalists or soloists in all spheres of musical performance, including opera and ballet companies, symphony orchestras in Russia and abroad. The department has produced a large number of notable artists, professor and tutors at major schools. Well-established links with the orchestras of the Mariinsky theater, the Mussorgsky theater, the Philharmonic Orchestra contribute to the high quality of education at the faculty. For over a century leading performers have been teaching at the faculty.
Specialist degree: « The art of instrumental performance»
The department has always occupied a place of special significance in the Conservatory, since lovers of music in this country tend to view opera as the top of arts. The theatre-going public from both Russian capitals take a great interest in all aspects of vocal studies at the Conservatory. Who would likely become a leading singer at the Mariinsky or the Bolshoi theatre – the Conservatory has always lived up to their expectations. Today the department offers studies in singing and 
stage directing.
The Department was established by the great conductor Nikolay Malko who studied composition with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov and conducting with Nikolay Tcherepnin. Famous musicians who graduated from the Conservatory are now teaching a new generation of conductors.
The department was established in 1960 by a group of post-graduates from the Gnesin Institute in Moscow. It quickly won recognition both in this country and abroad: many students of the department were awarded prizes at various prestigious festivals and competitions. Always prominent among the prize-winners are either balalaika or bayan players.